Forests are some of the most beautiful, magical places on Earth. They are living entities that are necessary for the survival of life on our big, blue planet. Forests play important parts in our life. In this post, we will talk about the reasons why forests are important.
Contents
- 1 Reasons Why Forests Are Important
- 1.1 1. They help us breathe
- 1.2 2. Forests are vital to our health
- 1.3 3. They keep Earth cool
- 1.4 4. They keep us cool
- 1.5 5. Forests can make it rain
- 1.6 6. Forests provide jobs and incomes
- 1.7 7. They fight erosion
- 1.8 8. They fight flooding
- 1.9 9. Forests host 80 % of all terrestrial biodiversity
- 1.10 10. They account for 75 % of freshwater resources worldwide
- 1.11 11. They clean up dirty soil
- 1.12 12. They clean up dirty air
Reasons Why Forests Are Important
1. They help us breathe
Forests pump out the oxygen we need to live and absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale (or emit). A single mature, leafy tree is estimated to produce a day’s supply of oxygen for anywhere from two to 10 people. Phytoplankton in the ocean are more prolific, providing half of Earth’s oxygen, but forests are still a key source of quality air.
2. Forests are vital to our health
As a guardian of terrestrial biodiversity, forests are a treasury of medicinal plants and pharmaceutical ingredients. Some 75 % of the most commonly prescribed medicines source their ingredients from forests. Not to mention the healing effects of clean water and air and a healthy walk in the woods.
3. They keep Earth cool
Trees also have another way to beat the heat: absorb CO2 that fuels global warming. Plants always need some CO2 for photosynthesis, but Earth’s air is now so thick with extra emissions that forests fight global warming just by breathing. CO2 is stored in wood, leaves, and soil, often for centuries.
4. They keep us cool
By growing a canopy to hog sunlight, trees also create vital oases of shade on the ground. Urban trees help buildings stay cool, reducing the need for electric fans or air conditioners, while large forests can tackle daunting tasks like curbing a city’s “heat island” effect or regulating regional temperatures.
5. Forests can make it rain
Trees take the water from the soil and release it into Earth’s atmosphere. So, forests that are large can not only create their own micro-climates, they influence atmospheric conditions that can cause it to rain. And, if the forest is large enough, it influences weather patterns for thousands of miles. For instance, The Amazon rain forest has an effect on the weather as far away as the United States!
6. Forests provide jobs and incomes
The economic value of the services provided by forests worldwide is estimated at 16.2 trillion dollars. In addition to the supply of clean water and air, these services include numerous indispensable products, including wood (construction, furniture, paper, energy, etc.), resins, fruits, honey, ingredients for medicines, cosmetics, detergents… to name just a few. They also have a role to play in tourism. On top of that, forests are said to create jobs for more than 13 million people. It is also important to note that about a third of the world’s population still depends on forests and trees for their daily needs, especially for cooking and heating.
7. They fight erosion
Another reason for those stands of trees around crop fields is that they help to keep that precious topsoil in place! That’s why we work so hard planting mangrove trees in Madagascar. Forests not only keep soil in place, but also prevent erosion from rain. Deforestation causes mudslides, dust storms, and flooding.
8. They fight flooding
Tree roots are key allies in heavy rain, especially for low-lying areas like river plains. They help the ground absorb more of a flash flood, reducing soil loss and property damage by slowing the flow.
9. Forests host 80 % of all terrestrial biodiversity
All these animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria provide essential services for nature and the survival of mankind. They also hold enormous economic significance.
10. They account for 75 % of freshwater resources worldwide
Water is better absorbed into the soil thanks to trees and forests which improve groundwater recharge and feed springs and rivers. At high altitudes, cloud forests can extract moisture from fog and clouds.
11. They clean up dirty soil
In addition to holding soil in place, forests may also use phytoremediation to clean out certain pollutants. Trees can either sequester the toxins away or degrade them to be less dangerous. This is a helpful skill, letting trees absorb sewage overflows, roadside spills, or contaminated runoff.
12. They clean up dirty air
We herald houseplants for purifying the air but don’t forget forests. They can clean up air pollution on a much larger scale, and not just CO2. Trees absorb a wide range of airborne pollutants, including carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. In the U.S. alone, urban trees are estimated to save 850 lives per year and $6.8 billion in total health care costs just by removing pollutants from the air.
In conclusion, these are some reasons why forests are important that you need to know. Because of its importance, we have to take actions to protect them.
